Sound-reproducing apparatus



June 11, 1929- R. s. BLAIR Er AL SOUND REPRODUCNG APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet l 8 R O T. N. E

June 11, 1929- R. s. BLAIR ET A1.

SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed July l2, 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 M IKENTORS.

June l1, 1929 R. s. BLAIR ET Ax.

SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS 4 Shets-Sheet C5 @fm/(MENTON Filed July l2, 1921 4- Abhe@-s'heet 4 r June 11, 1929. R. s. BLAIR x-:T A L SOUND- REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filedy July 12,71921 mmf +95. mfewnv um n El Ow/ f /N l o Muvmj uw@ vm NN Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT S. BLAIR, OF SOUND BEACH, A ND BURLING D. WLLS, OF DANBURY, CON- NECTICUT; SAID WELLS ASSIGNOR TO SAID BLAIR.

SOUND-REPRODUCING APPARATUS.

Application f11ed July 12,

This invention relates to sound reproducing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for attaching to standard forlns of phonographs for the reproducing of sound thereon.

One of the objects thereof is the production of a sound reproducing apparatus efficient and dependable in action and simple and inexpensive in construction. Another object is to provide sound reproducing apparatus of such character as may be readily attached to standard phonographs using disc records. Another object is to provide a sound reproducing apparatus and a method by which it may be applied and adjusted on any standard phonograph using disc records by the average owner and not necessitating the use of elaborate tools to do so. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure and in the art as is hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accon'ipanying drawings in which is shown one or more of the various possible embodiments of the several mechanical features of this invention, Figure I is a plan view of a phonograph adapted to use disc records and having mounted thereon a sound reproducing apparatus, the casing which houses the worm reduction gearing being shown in cross section. the cross section being taken along the line 1 1 in the direction as indicated by the arrows in Figure III. Figure II is an elevation in cross section of the gear case enclosing the train of driving gears shown in Figure I, the section being taken along the line 2 2 in the direction as indicated by the arrows. Figure III is a side elevation of the phonograph shown iu Figure I, the gear case cnelosing the worm reduction gear being shown in cross section, the cross section being taken along the line 3 3 in the direction as indicated by the arrows in Figure I and the main disc which usually supports the record but in this invention is used to support an auxiliary disc support being shown in cross section together with the auxiliary disc which it supports. the cross section being taken along the line 4 4 as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1921. Serial No. 484,114.

I. Figure IV is a side elevation of a section of the reproducer support showing the mechanism attached thereto for mechanically guiding the movement thereof relative to the disc upon which the reproducer is acting. Figure V is a plan view of the segments of the disc support of the phonograph shown in Figure I the clutch and controlling mechanism thereof being shown in detail. Figure VI is a side elevation of the controlling mechanism shown in Figure V. Figure VII is a plan view of the phonograph shown in Figure I and differs from that shown in Figure I by the fact that the gear train engages with the rim of the auxiliary disc support instead of with a pinion mounted on the shaft of the main disc support as shown in Figure I.'

Figure VIII is a side elevation of the phonograph shown in Figure VII. Figure IX is a plan view in cross section of a section of the rim of the auxiliary disc support shown in Figure VIII, the section being taken along the line 9 9 in the direction as indicated by the arrows and affords a clear view of the tooth-shaped indentations in the rim thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to si milar parts throughout'in the various views of the drawings.

Turning now to the accompanying drawings, in Figure III we have at 10 an auxiliary disc support mounted upon three rollers 11 each revolving on pins such as 12 joui'- na-lcd in a chair 13 fastened to the main record support 14 by screws such as 15, the main record support- 14 being fastened on the spindle 16 by means of a set screw 17. The auxiliary record support carries on its upper surface a disc record 18. The spindle 16 does not project a Vsufficient distance above the upper surface of the main record support 14 to `guide the auxiliary record support 10 and the disc record 1S carried thereon, so there is provided a spindle extension 19 which is cup-shaped on its lower end and rests over the upper end of the spindle 16, its other end being reduced to a diameter equal to that of the spindle 16. This end projects upward through the auxiliary disc support 10 and the disc record carried thereon and serves to maintain exact coaxial relation between the main record support 14, the auxiliary reeord support 10 and the disc record 18. A reprodueer support 20 journaled at its lower end in the bracket 21 and held therein by a pivot 22 threaded into an extension of the bracket 21 and engaging with Va lug on the reproducer Asupport 20, carries a reproducer 23. The reproducer 23 swiveled about an axis at right angles to the top surface of the disc record 18 has a diaphragm 24 having' a stylus 25 mounted on its center and engaging with the upper surface of the disc record 18. The degree to. which the stylus 25 penetrates the surface of the disc record 13 is controlled by means. of a set screw 26 threaded into a lug on the reproducer 23, the end of this screw 2.6 bears against the lower side of the reproducer support 2O and limits the downward swing of the reproducer 23 towards the disc record 1S. Turning now to Figure I we have two guide supports 27 screwed to the upper surface of the phonograph cabinet 28 by means of screws such as 29. The guide supports 27 have passed through holes in `their upper corners two rods 30 circular in cross section and fastened therein by means of pins suc-h as 31.. A lead screw 32 is journaled in the two guide supports 27 parallel to and midway between the rods 30 and has one end extending through the journal in the guide support 27 upon which end is mounted a worm gear 33 by means of a set screw 34. A gear casing 35 housing the worm gear 33 and a worm 36 meshing therewith and having journaled therein the worm shaft 37, is fastened to the outside surface of the guide support 27 by screws such as 38. The worm 36 is loosely mounted on the worm shaft 37 and is free to revolve relative thereto and is restrained from relative axial movement to the worm shaft 37 by means of the collar 39 (Fig. III) fastened thereon by means of a pin 40 and by a shoulder on the worm shaft 37 which bears against the right hand end of the worin 36, this shoulder being formed by the reduction of the diameter of the shaft 37 where the worm 36 is journaled thereon and to the left worm 36. A jaw clutch 41 splined on the worm shaft 37 (see Fig. III) has projections on its left hand end adapted to engage with corresponding recesses in the right hand end of the worm 36, the clutch 41 and the worm 36 being shown in engagement in Fig. III, the projections on the clutch member 41 being in engagement with the recesses in the end of the worm 36. A groove is turned in the circumference ofthe clutch 41 and has engaging therewith a pin 42 set in the end of the shifting lever43 which is swiveled on the pin 44 supported by a lug on the outside of and integral with the gear casing 35. The worm 36 and the parts related thereto are most clearly shown in Figure III. In'Figure I we havek a cam plate 45 slidably mounted 0n the rods 30 and having screwed therein on one side a stud 46 on which is swiveled a lever 47 which is rounded on its upper end toa convenient shape for use as a controlling lever and which at its lower end below the stud 46 is formed with a projection which has serrations which correspond with the pitch of the thread on the lead screw 32 and are adapted to engage with the threads thereon and at all times are held in engagement therewith by the spring 43 one end of which is hooked over the stud 4i) fixed in the cam plate 45 and the other end of which is hooked into a projection on the lower end of the lever 47. In Figure IV we have a ring 50 which is split on the diameter so that it may be placed around the reproducer support 20 and clamped thereon by the screws 51, the ring 50 being securely held in position thereon by means of set screws such as 52 which have hard and sharp points which are adapted to malte indentations in the reproducer Vsupport 20 when they are firmly screwed down thereon. The lower end of the ring 50 has set therein a pin 53 which has journaled thereon a roller 54 retained thereon by means of a split pin 55. The 'ing 50 is so located on the reproducer support 2O that the roller 54 engages with a slot 56 in the cam plate 45, the slot 56 being of such width to allow free movement of the roller 54 along it yet not permitting any looseness in a direction perpendicular to the line of movement of the roller 54 within the slot 56. Turning now to Figure III we have a pinion 57 which slips over the hub of the main record support 14 and is fastened thereon by means of the setscrew 53 and has meshing therewith a gear 59 which in turn meshes with gear 60 which is pinned on the shaft 61 by the pin 62, the shaft 61 having pinned on its upper end by a pin 62a the beveled gear 63 which meshes with another beveled gear 64 which is pinned on the end of the worm shaft- 37 by means of a pin 62, The shaft 61 and the shaft 65 are journaled at their lower and upper ends in the gear casing 66 as shown in Figure II. T he upper part of the gear case 66 is 'indented to form a groove to clear the lower edge of the rim of the main disc support 14. As is commonly the case in most standard machines, the lower edge of this riin very closely approaches the surface of the cabinet 2S. Turning now to Figure V we have a clutch lever 67 swiveled on a stud 63 which is riveted into the lower surface of the auxiliary disc support 10 and having pinned thereon approximately midway of its length a brake shoe 69. A spring 70 one end of which is hooked over a stud 71 riveted into the lower side of the auxiliary disc support 10 has the other end hooked over stud 7l in clutch lever 67. In Figure VI we have a bed plate 7 2 fastened to the upper surface of the Cabinet 23 by means of screws such as 73 the upper surface of the bed plate 72 being provided with the lugs through which is passed a pin 74 on which are swiveled a short arm 75 and a long arm 76 which extend upwardly from the pin 74 sufficiently to engage with the end of the clutch lever 67. vA projection 72a of the bed plate 72 extends upwardly and forms a support for the control wire casing 77, the end of which is securely clamped therein by the clamping screw 78. The control wire 79 which is slidably mounted within the control wire casing 77 has attached to its left hand end a collar 8O by means of a set screw 81 and at its extreme left end passes through a. hole in the shifting lever i3, being fastened therein by a set screw 58. The wire 79 is provided at its other end with a push button 82 which in combination with the grip 83 threaded on to the end of the control wire casing 77 affords a ready means by which the control wire 77 may be moved by using the fingers of one hand only. In Figure V is will be seen that the long arm 76 is placed nearest the auxiliary disc support 10 while a short arm is mounted at a greater distance therefrom. A pair of springs such as 84 has one end of each hooked over a stud 85 in the bed plate 72, the other ends thereof being hooked over the studs 86 and 87 in the short arln 75 and the long arm 76 respectively as shown in Figure VI. Reference will now be had to Figures VII, VIII and IX which show sound reproducing apparatus of the same general form as has been described above and which differs from the form of apparatus shown in Figures I to VI inclusive only in the method of driving the lead screw 32. The mechanism shown in Figures VII, VIII and IX being identical with that which has been shown in the other views of the drawings with the exception of the geartrain, the same reference characters will appear hereafter in the description thereof with the exception of the gear train which will be Igiven additional reference characters. Turning now to Figure VIII we have an auxiliary disc support 89. the rim thereof` having been pierced at equidistant points around the circumference thereof and the flaps of metal formed by the piercing operation being bent inward towards the center line of the spindle extension 19. the undisturbed strip of metal lying between two adjacent openings leftby the piercing operation and` the two iiaps of metal integral therewith forming gear teeth 90 as is shown in enlarged scale by the drawing in Figure IX. The ear teeth 90` in the rim of the auxiliary disc support 89 mesh with a gear 91 which pinned on the upper end of the shaft 92. The lower end of the shaft 92 has pinned thereon a pinion 93.*and the extreme lower end of the shaft 92 is journaled in the lug 94 which has an extension of the guide support 27 integral therewith. A bevel gear integral with a gear 96 is journaled on a stud fixed in the lug 94, the gear 96 meshes with the pinion 93 on the shaft 92. and the bevel gear meshes with another bevel gear 97 pinned on the end of the worm shaft 37. As will be seen by the description of the gear train just described it is unnecessary to provide a clutch for engaging with the worm 36 and the worm shaft 37 as the worin shaft 37 is now directly geared to the auxiliary disc support 89 instead of to the main disc support 14.- as shown in Figure III and consequently will be set in rotation whenever the auxiliary disc support 89 is set in rotation; therefore the worm 36 as shown in Figure VIII is securely pinned to the worm shaft 37 by means of a pin 36a. It is preferable that the gear 91, the pinion 93 and the bevel gear 97 should be constructed of some form of material such as rawhide or bakelite to'insure noiseless operation thereof.

The operation of the apparatus above described and shown in the drawingsI Figures I to VI inclusive is substantially as follows: A disc record 18 made of wax is placed upon the auxiliary disc support 10 with the spindle extension 19 projecting up through the hole in the center thereof which serves to maintain the disc record 18 in axial alignment with the spindle 16. It now being desired to record a speech or other sound it is only necessary to set the main disc support 11 in motion by winding up the driving spring and releasing the brake which mechanism is commonly supplied in the standard form of phonograph and being beyond the scope of this invention is not shown in t-he drawings. The main disc support 14 now rotating at a constant speed is placed in connection with the auxiliary disc 10 whenever it is desired to make a record of sound produ'ced in the neighborhood of the sound reproducing apparatus above d scribed. This operation is performed by the operator placing two fingers of one hand behind the grip 83 shown in Figure VI and pressing upon the push button 82 with the thumb of the same hand, The movement of the push button 82 towards the grip 83 thus produced forces the cont-rol wire 79 to the left through the control wire casing 77 and forces the collar 8O which is fastened thereto by the set screw 81 against the short arm 75 which is of such length that as it swings over to the left about the pin 74 as an axis it comes in contact with the end of the clutch lever' 67. The clutch lever 67 thus being forced over to the left comes in turn into contactwith the long lever arm 76` which is mounted on the pin 7i between the main disc support 14 and the short arm 75 and which resists being forced over to the left by the clutch lever 67 due to the spring 84 which is hooked over studs 85 and 87. There is a continuous rotary movement of the clutch lever 67 about the stud 68 as the operator continues to force the push button 82 over towards the grip 83 until the center line of the spring 70 shown in Figure V swings over to the leftof the stud 68 when a rapid acceleration of the movement of the clutch lever 67 about the stud 68 results, the movement ending when the left hand end of the brake shoe 69 comes into contact with the rim of the main disc support 14. This results in frictional engagement between the disk support 14 and the brake shoe 69 andas the main disc support 14 is in a state of uniform rotation with the spindle 16 the auxiliary disc support 10 is set in uniform motion in synchronism therewith. The length of the long arm 76 and the short arm 75 is so proportioned that when the push button 82 has been forced over towards the giip 83 su'liiciently to cause the brake shoe 69 to engage with the main disc support 14 as above described the clutch lever 67 will clear the ends thereof and will continue to do so as long as the operator holds the push button 62 in that position. 1t will also be noted that when the record carrying disc is set in rotation as above described it is given an impulse in its direction of rotation thus tending to overcome its inertia and bring it iininediatel).T up to the proper speed. At approximately the saine time that the left hand end of the brake shoe 69 shown in Figure V comes into frictioiial contact with the rim of the main disc support 14 the jaw clutch 41 is shoved over to the left engaging with the worm 36 on the worm shaft 37 shown in Figure 1H. The worin shaft 37 rotates whenever the main disc support 14 rotates by reason of the pinion 57 which is fastened to the hub thereof by the set sciew 58 and which engages with the gear 59 which in turn' engages with the gear 60 which gear 6() being pinned to the shaft 61 by means of a pin 62 sets the shaft 61 in rotation and the bevel gear 63 pinned to the upper end thereof by the pin 61 which gear 623 in turn engages with the bevel gear 64 pinned on the end of the worin shaft 37. The throwing in of the jaw clutch 41 into engagement with the worin 36 at the saine time that the left hand end of the brake shoe 69 engages with the rim of the iiiaiii dise support 14 is accomplished by the contiol wire 79 which extends beyond the clutch lever 67 shown in Figures V and VI until it passes through a hole in the shifting lever 43. The wire 79 is fastened to the lever 43 by means of a set screw such as 58 and as tlie'operator forces the push button 852 over towards the grip S3 shown in Figure V1 thus causing the clutch lever 67 to move over to the left as above described, through its connection with the shifting lever 43 by being fastened thereto by the set screw 58 the wire 79 causes the end of the shifting lever 43 where the pin 42 mounted in the end thereof engages with the groove in the jaw clutch 41 to move to the left rotating about the pin 44 as an axis and as the jaw clutch 41 is worm 36 shown in Figure l causes rotation of the worm gear 83 with which it meshes 'f and which transmits its rotation to the lead screw 32 as it is rigidly fastened thereto by a set screw 34. As the lead screw 32 rotates it causes axial movement of the cam plate 45 relative thereto along the rods 30 by reason of the sei'rations in the lower end of the lever 47 which is mounted on the stud 46 screwed into the side of the cani plate 45 engaging with the threads thereof. This engagement is maintained by the spring 4S one end of which is hooked over the stud 49 in the side of the cam plate 45and which pulls upon the lower end of the lever 47 as is clearly shown in Figure 111. The movement of the cam plate 45 on the rods SO causes the repi'oducer support 20 to swing in its beaiings and about the pivot 22 as an axis as the slot 56 in the cam plate 45 engages with tlie roller 54 shown in Figure 1V which roller 54 is ino-unted on the stud 55 set in the ring 50 which is clamped on to the reproducer support 2O by means of th-e screws 51 and the set screws 5.2. The direction of the thread of the lead screw 32 is such that as the auxiliary disc support 10 and the main disc support 14 rotate the stylus 25 which is mounted in the center of the diaphragm 24 on the reproducer 23 cuts a spiral groove in the surface of the disc record 18 the spiral starting near the center thereof and leading outward towards the edge thereof. The slot 56 is so shaped that as the cam plat-e 45 moves along the rods 30 it will compensate for the irregularities which would be produced in the spiral groove cut in the surface of the dise 18 by the stylus Q5 due to the changing angularity of the reproducer support 2O with reference to the lead screw 32 and will cause the stylus 25 to cut a groove of uniform pitch at all points on the surface of the disc record 18.

At any time that the operator may desire to stop the recording of the sound he may do so by removing the pressure from the push button 82 shown in Figure Vl. This permits the spring` 84 to draw the short arni 7 5 over to the right about the pin 74 as an axis by reason of the collar 8O moving over the right along with the control wire 79 as the pressure is removed from the push button 82. r1`lie long arm 76 which was also held in a position considerably to the left of the position shown in Figure Vl by the action of the collar 86 pressing against the short arm which in turn is pressed against the stud 87 fixed in the long arm 76 and now swings over to the right to the position as shown in Figure Vl about the pin 74 as an axis under the urge of the spring 84 which pulls upon the stud 87 lili) fixed therein until a projection on the lower end of the arm 76 comes against the bed plate 72 as shown in Figure VI. The long arm 7 6 having assumed the position shown in Figure VI it will be seen that the clutch lever 67 during its next revolution with the auxiliary disc support 10 will come into lcontact therewith and the clutch lever 67 will be swung over to the right about the stud 68 to a position as shown in Figure V due to the momentum of the auxiliary disc support 10. The motion of the clutch lever 67 as above described will lift the left hand end of the brake shoe G9 away from the main disk 14 breaking the frictional engagement therewith and interrupting the connection between the auxiliary disk 1() and the main disc support 14 thus bringing' the auxiliary disc 10 promptly to rest. The shock of suddenly stopping the auxiliary disc support 10 is taken up by the spring 84 which permits the long arm 76 to move slightly to the left but returns it to the position as shown in Figure VI after the force of the blow delivered thereto by the clutch lever 67 striking it has been expended. The long arm 7 6 will remain in the position as shown in Figure VI with the lug on its lower end pressing` against the bed plate 72 as long as the auxiliary disc support 10 remains at rest. At the same time that the control wire 7 9 was permitted to move to the right as above described the extreme left end thereof which is fastened to the shifting lever 43 by means of the set screw 58 causes the shifting lever 43 to swing to the right vabout the pin 44 as an axis and by reason of the pin in the end of the shifting lever 43 engaging with the groove in the circumference of the clutch 41 drew the clutch 41 to the right breakingl its engagement with the worm 36 thus interrupting the Iconnection between the worm 36 and the worm shaft 37. Thus although the worm shaft 37 continues to rotate as it is positively geared to the hub of the main disc support 14 the rotation of which has not been interrupted the worm 36 will come to an abrupt stop as the speed of the rotation ofthe worm gear 33 as shown in Figure III is comparatively low with reference to that of the main disc support 14. The rotation of the worm gear 33 having been interrupted by the stopping of the rotation of the worm 3G the lead screw 32 and hence the reproducer support 20 are also brought to a state of rest. Froin the above it will be seen that the apparatus has been so designed that the operator may at any time bring the auxiliary disc support l() and the disc record 18 resting thereon to a state of rest and at the same time stop the stylus 25 from making any further movement relative thereto. -This is essential so that when the operator wishes to start the recording of sound upon the disc record 18 again by pressing the push button 82 shown in Figure VI and causing the sound producing apparatus to function in a manner as above described the stylus 25 will immediately upon the resumption of rotation by the disc record 18 and the auxiliary disc support 10 upon which it is resting, describe a groove spiral in plan which is an exact continuation of the spiral groove already existing in the surface of the disc record 18. If the operator desires to have reproduced a portion of the sound which has been recorded upon the disc record 18 he has only -to lift the reproducer 23 up from engagement with the spiral groove in the surface of the disc record 18 and swing the reproducer support 20 and the mechanism attached therewith over towards the center of the disc record 18 at the same time holding the lever 47 out of engagement with the lead screw 32 with his other hand and finally lower the reproducer 23 so that the stylus 25 rests in the spiral groove once more. The set screw 26 in the lug on the reproducer 23 bearing against the bottom of the reproducer support 2O will prevent enlargement of the spiral groove which was previously cut in the surface of the disc record 18. The stylus 25 having been correctly engaged with the groove in the surface of the disc record 18 the lever 47 is permitted to make engagement with the lead screw 32 un' der the urge of the spring 48 which is hooked over one end of the stud 49 in the cam plate 45 pulling on the lower end thereof. The sound reproducing apparatus may be now set in motion by manipulation of the push button 82 as above described and the stylus 25 traveling along the spiral groove cut in the surface of the disc record 18 as the latter revolved there under the sound recorded thereon will be faithfully reproduced. Vhenever the auxiliary disc support l() is held stationary and the main disc support 14 continues to rotate carrying with it the chairs 13 which carry the pins 12 upon which the rollers 11 are journaled the rollers 11 will be caused to revolve as they rotate in the circular path beneath the auxiliary disc support 10 as they are in frictional engagement with the bottom thereof and supporting the same above the main disc support 14.

The form of the reproducing apparatus shown in the drawing in Figures VII to IX inclusive is substantially the same asthat above described with the exception that its operation especially in regard to the method of control is much simplified as the lead screw 32 is positively connected to the auxiliary disc support 89 by gearing as shown in Fig- ,ures VII and VIII. As will be seen by examing Figures VII and VIII the same controlling apparatus is made use of that is shown in Figures V and VI the brake shoe 69 mounted on the clutch lever 67 serving to connect the auxiliary discsupport 89 to the main disc support 14. The gear teeth formed in the rim of the auxiliary .disc support 89 llO Cil

as above described have been so formed that the exterior surface of the iiin thereof' is substantially as smooth as in the other forni of the apparatus where there are no gear teeth formed in the rim thereof thus permitting lcorrect functioning of the brake shoe 69. In order to use this forni of reproducing apparatus the opeiator proceeds as above described placing a disc iecord on the surface of the auxiliary disc support 89 and breaking` the engagement of the lever 47 with the lead screw 32 by swinging the handle end thereof over to the left thus permitting the reprodiicer support 20 to be swung in a clockwise direction about the pivot 22 and its bean ings as their axis until the stylus 25 can be placed-close to the center of the disc record' 18. Upon this having` been accomplished the lever 47 is permitted to make engagement with the lead screw 32 once more being held securely in engagement by the urge of the springl 48. The auxiliary disc support 89 and the disc record 18 supported thereon are now set in motion by pressing the push butn toii 82 as above described causing the brake shoe 69 shown in Figure V to make frictional engagement with the vmain disc support 14. Immediately upon the disc record 18 revolvH ing with the auxiliary disc support 89 upon which it rests all sound produced in the neighborhood of the machine will be recorded, the sound waves being carried to the stylus 25' through the cabinet 28 through the reproducer support 20 to the diaphragm 24 which isset in vibration thereby and causes the stylus 25 to vibrate up and down causing the cross section of the groove which it traces in the surface of the disc record 18 to vary. The rotation of the auxiliary disc support 89 causes the lead screw 32 to rotate at\a proportionate rate by setting in rotation the gear 91 which engages with the teeth cut in the rim of the auxiliary support 89 and which in turn as it is securely pinned to the upper end of the shaft 92 by the pin 62 causes rotation of the shaft 92 and the pinion 93 pinned to its lower en d by a similar pin 62 the pinion 93 causing rotation of the gear 9G and the bevel gear 95 integral therewith and the shaft 97. The bevel gear 95 drives woiin shaft 37 through bevel gear 97' secured to the end of this shaft by the pin 62. Shaft 37 on which the worm 3G is pinned as at 36a, drives thel mating worm gear 33 secured to the end of.

lead screw 32 by the set screw 34 and causes uniform rotation thereof. Aside from the functioning ofthe driving means of the lead screw 32 the operation of the reproducing ap-` paratus shown in Figures VII to IX inclusive is substantially the same as previously described.

It will be seen from the above description of the manner in which the lead screw 32 is driven from the auxiliary disc 89 that e'ach time the auxiliary disc 89 is set in rotation or stopped' that the rotation ofthe lead screw 32 will be .started or stopped also and the stylus 25 in the center of the diaphragm 2li of the reproducer 23 will correspondingly start or stop tracing a spiral groove in the surface of the disc iecord 18. The shaft 92 is set far enough away from the main disc support let and the auxiliary disc support 89 so that as the clutch lever G7 which is mounted on the auxiliary disc 89 rotates therewith the cnd thereof will clear the shaft 92 and not cause interruption of the rotation of the auxiliary disc support 89 and the main disc support 14e. From the above description of the operation of the reproducing apparatus shown in Figures VII to IX inclusive it will be seen that there is provided a more positive means of causing synchronous motion of the stylus 25 relative to the disc record 18 and which synchronism will be exactly main-tained whatever the speed of rotation of the disc record 18 and the rest of the mechanism connected therewith may be as the gear train connecting the auxiliary disc record 18 to thc lead screw 32 cannot in any way be caused to change the ratio of speeds of rotation which exist between the lead screw 32 and the auxiliary disc support 89 by the inertia or momentum of any of the rotating parts.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and of the art herein setforth and as various changes might be made in theembodiment set forth, it is to be understood that all material herein set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

vWe claim 1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a machine having a turntable normally adapted to support a disc rec ord and means for driving said turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, means for driving said auxiliary tiiin-table from said first turn-table, a record ing needle, means adapted to feed said needle across the surface of a record supported upon said auxiliary turn-table, and means having a driving connection with the peripheral edge portion of said auxiliary turn-table adapted to drive said feeding means. Y

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a turn-table adapted to support a disc record, means for rotating said turntable, an auxiliary turn-table adapted to support a disc record, anti-fiiction means supporting said auxiliary turn-table above said first turn-table, means adapted to drive said auxiliary tiirn-table from said first turn-table, and manually controlled means adapted to stop said auxiliary tiirn-table and permit said first turn-table to continue in motion.

3. In a device of the class described, in coinbination, a turn-table adapted normally to support a disc record, means for rotating said llO till

turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table adapted to support a disc record, anti-friction means Supporting said auxiliary turn-table above said lirst turn-table, means coacting with peripheral portions of said two turn-tables forming a driving connection therebetween, means for breaking said driving connection, and means adapted when said driving coniection is broken to hold said auxiliary turntable against rotating with said lirst turntable.

In a device of' the class described, in combination, a turn-table adapted normally to support a dise record, means for rotating said turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table adapted to support a disc record, anti-friction means supporting said auxiliary turn-table above said first turn-table, means enacting with the peripheral pin-tions of said two turn-tables to connect them in driving relation, a recording needle, means adapted upon actuation to 'feed said recording needle across the surface of a record supported upon said auxiliary turn-table, and means driven from said auxiliar)T turn-table for actuating said feeding means.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member adapted to support a disc record, means mounting said member upon the turn-table of a sound-reproducing machine, means adapted to rotate said member 'from said turn-table and means adapted to connect said member in driving relation with said turn-table through said last means and simultaneously apply an impulse thereto in its direction of movement to tend to overcome its inertia.A

6'. In a device ofthe class described, in combination, a member adapted to support a disc record, means of mounting said member upon the rotating record support of a sound-reproducing machine, means adapted to hold said member stationary, and means adapted to release said mcmbei to rotate with said record support an( adapted to simultaneously apply an impulse thereto in the direction of rotation to tend to overcome its inertia.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination with a machine having a turn-table normally adapted to su] porta disc record and means for driving said turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, and means for driving said auxiliary turn-table from said first turn-table, said means includinga device adapted to engage both said turn-tables to connect them in driving relation and capable of being moved inan- 'ually to break said driving connection.

8. In a device ofthe class described, in com. bination with a machine having a turn-table normally adapted to support a disc record and means for driving said turn-table, an aux` iliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, and means for driving said auxiliary turn-table :trom said first turn-table,

A ble'to connect said two turn-tables vsaid means including a device adapted to engage both said turn-tables to connect them in driving relation and capable of being moved manually to a position in which it engages only said auxiliary turn-table and holds the same against rotation.

9. In a device of the class described, in combination with a machinev having a turn-table normally adapted to support a disc record and means for driving said turn-table, -an auxiliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, means for driving said auxiliary turn-table from said iirst turn-table, said means including a device adapted to engage both said turn-tables to connect them in drivingl relation and capable of being moved manually to break said driving connection, a recording needle, means adapted upon actuation to feed said needle across the surface of a record upon said auxiliary turn-table, and means adapted to drive said feeding means from said auxiliary turn-table.

l0. In a device of the class described, in combination with a machine having a turn-V table normally adapted to support a disc record and means for driving said turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, and means for driving said auxiliary turn-table from said rst turn-table. said means including a device carried by said auxiliary turn-table and having a partengaging the periphery of said first turn-tain driving relation.

l1. In a device of the class described, in combination with a machine having a turntable normally adapted to support a disc record and means for driving said turn-table, an auxiliary turn-table supported above said first turn-table, 'means for driving said auxiliary turn-table from said first turn-table, said means including a device carried by Said auxiliary turn-falde and having a part engaging the periphery of' said irst turn-table to connect said two turn-tables in driving relation, and means for moving said last part out of engagement with said first turn-table to break said driving connection.

l2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a turn-table adapted to support a disc record and having a peripheral depending flange, a recording needle, means adapted upon being driven to feed said needle across the face of a record upon said turn-table, and a gear connected to drive said feeding means, said depending flange of said turn-table having recesses with which the teeth of said gear eoaet and whereby said gear is driven from said turn-table.

13. In a device of the class described, in combination, a turn-table adapted to support a disc record, means tending to rotate said turn-table, means restraining said turn-table from rotating, and means for releasing said restraining means adapted to give said turntable an impulse in the direction of its ro tation.

14. In a device of the class described, in combination, an auiliar7 record support mounted upon the turn-table ot a sound-reproducing machine, a Jfriction member carried by said record support adapted to engage said turn-table to connect said support in driving` relation therewith, and means adaptedto move said friction member relative to said record support and relative to said turntable to interrupt said driving connection.

15. In a device of the class described, in combination, a record supporting` member supported upon the turn-table of' a sound-reproducingmachine, antifriction means interposed between said member and said turntable to permit relative rotation thereof, and a centering device upon said record supportin member adapted to co-act with the centrer pin of said turn-table.

16. In a device of the class described, in combination, a record supporting member mounted upon the turn-table of a sound-reproducing machine, means rotatable With said member adapted to connect the same in driving relation with said turn-table, a projecting member associated with said `last means, and means adapted to be moved into the path ot said projecting member to be engaged thereby to break said driving connection.

17. In sou-nd-reproducing apparatus, in combination, a turn-table adapted to support and rotate a disc record, means tending to rotate said turn-table, a device adapted to engage and stop said turn-table and movable in its direction of rotation., and means adapted to move said device in said direction to release said turn-table and simultaneously apw ply thereto an impulse in its direction of ros tation.

18. In sound-reproducing apparatus, in combination, a turn-table adapted to support and rotate a disc record, means tending to rotate said turn-table, a device adapted to engage and stop said turn-table and movable in its direction ot' rotation, and means adapted to move said device in said direction to release said turn-table and simultaneously appl)7 thereto an impulse in its direction ot rotation, said dcvice comprising a member adapted r-ictionally to engage said turn-ta ble and monnted to move therewith for a limited distance upon such engagement.

In witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names.

ROBERT S. BLAIR. BURLING D. IVELLS. 

